The UK government has announced a £61 million contract to revive artillery barrel production in Yorkshire for the first time in nearly two decades, according to a press release issued on 22 January 2025.
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has awarded the contract to BAE Systems, partnering with Sheffield Forgemasters, to produce barrel forgings in Yorkshire. These components will be sent to Ukraine for final assembly and integration into artillery systems.
The initiative forms part of a broader £4.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine in 2025, aimed at enhancing the country’s air defences and sustaining frontline capabilities against Russian forces.
A £61m contract has been placed with @BAESystemsplc and @ForgemastersHQ to produce artillery barrels in Yorkshire for Ukraine. 🇬🇧🇺🇦
In addition and on behalf of the International Fund for Ukraine, we will send Gravehawk, a UK designed air defence system, to their front line. pic.twitter.com/oEeOzcVUTx
— Defence Equipment & Support (@DefenceES) January 22, 2025
The announcement coincided with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s first visit to Ukraine since taking office. During the trip, he stated: “Ukraine’s security is our security. We must continue to do everything possible to ensure Ukraine is in the strongest position – that is why the UK is going further than ever before, ramping up military and humanitarian support. The British people have never wavered in their support for Ukraine, and today UK firms are stepping up to support Ukraine’s military capabilities.”
Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the UK’s expanded commitment, saying: “We are stepping up UK support for Ukraine throughout 2025. Our plan will increase Ukraine’s military capability, expand our training offer, strengthen defence industrial ties, and dial up the pressure on Putin.”
Major General Anna-Lee Reilly, Director of Strategic Capability, Engagement and Operations at DE&S, highlighted the domestic impact: “Not only do these contracts provide vital equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they also re-establish barrel manufacturing in the UK for the first time in a generation. This is a great example of the MOD, DE&S, and defence industry working together to support Ukraine.”
Funding includes £3 billion already committed for lethal aid and £1.5 billion from a £2.26 billion G7 loan, to be repaid using profits from frozen Russian sovereign assets. The government stated the contracts would bolster UK jobs, particularly in Yorkshire, while advancing its “growth agenda and Plan for Change”.
“Producting” artillery barrels……really!
Sure! Commencation of producting always prefigurises utilization.
‘Jon’ You are really Stanley Unwin and I claim my ten bob!
😂😂😂
Yeah I noticed that, embarrassing haha
Oh dear.At the defence journal as well. All is lost.
Well, now you know he’s a real person, the AI wouldn’t have made that spelling mistake, or would it???
These odd longer forms all spread from somewhere. I saw coronated instead of crowned again recently, and why utilise utilise when you can just use use? I’d like to blame the Yanks, but sometimes they get it right when we’ve messed it up, such as disorientate against disorient. Rest assured, whichever you find most annoying, that’s the one the AIs will pick up.
Good Day! Great news! A step forward in the positive direction. Let’s hope it can be sustained year to year!
Nick Hamburg
What are you on? I hope you are first in line to sign up and fight.
While I like the current name, is it time to rename it Royal Arsenal, Factory No.1? 🙃
Well probably not as producing barrels is just a sideline for SFM, it’s their capacity for large, precision forgings that’s their main Strategic business. TBH the 2021 decision by MOD to Nationalise SFM for £2.6 million and then start to invest £400 million in it was just in the nick of time. That decision was based on the work they do as a vital part of the UK DNE and another close ally, there just isn’t anyone left in UK who can provide their product. If do actually find it ironic that SFM is pretty well located in and on… Read more »
Are these barrels only for Ukraine? all this stuff etc for Ukraine who’s budget does come out of as it seems a bit of smoke mirrors about that.
M777 barrels for Ukraine supposedly, as they’re blowing through them at a tremendous rate.
When originally reported on here it seemed to suggest for British use too but I’m not sure that was a misunderstanding but I guess the capability may lead to British used barrels too at some stage, all starts with a single step.
Actually its not that clear…AS-90 and L118 barrels mentioned originally. There appears to be 3 facilties on the way in Sheffield… Forgemasters – Owned by MoD – Making barrel forgings….not sure if they’re machining the barrels though… BAE – Near to Forgemasters, still in build – This will make M777 components (like Barrow did)…will do barrels eventually inc. 57mm, 40mm Rheinmetall – Not sure if the build has started yet…will make 120mm barrels for CR3 and 155mm barrels for RCT155 Suspect the forgings part is the quickest to get off the ground. It wouldn’t shock me if the forgings initially… Read more »
Excellent break down, you should be writing these articles.
Funding includes £3 billion already committed for lethal aid and £1.5 billion from a £2.26 billion G7 loan, to be repaid using profits from frozen Russian sovereign assets. The government stated the contracts would bolster UK jobs, particularly in Yorkshire, while advancing its “growth agenda and Plan for Change”.
‘includes £3 billion already committed for lethal aid’, i am just trying work out if our defence budget is used for Ukraine as the last lot never clearly said no, and its just me trying get to bottom of the funding ie with Dept is paying for this as the restock of ammo comes out the defence budget with under pressure normally with out funding the war in Ukraine.
The £3bn definitely goes through the MOD budget. The last lot clearly said yes, especially when it went up from £2.5bn to £3bn, and the extra £500m was advertised as part of their planned increase in Defence spending.
As we have virtually no 155mm guns left and all those AS90’s need barrels ASAP it makes perfect sense to get the facility up and running to keep them in the fight. The next generation RCH155 is still just a project but when they start building them the intention is for Rheinmetal to open a gun factory to produce 155 & 120 barrels in the UK using steel made by SFM.
If I were a betting man I’d say it will be in Sheffield 🤔
Aah there we go makes perfect sense considering that original statement we heard and reported on the original article on here I mention above.
Hopefully but what many people don’t realise is that there is no new metal being dug up and made in Sheffield. It’s all done with recycled steel brought in, and given Sheffield is bang in the centre of the country, that doesn’t help, as everything is brought in and taken back out (as it’s not a port also), so the specialisms that the Sheffield steel industry offers is down to competence of workers and massive casting ability plus precision stuff, stainless steel and other specialisms still exist elsewhere in Sheffield so more work the better. I drive past this place… Read more »
Not sure you would use recycled steel for an artillery barrel, tight control of manganese and carbon composition is required for wear resistance.
I’m sure I read British steel-making is coming to an end with some recently announced closures, so it’s either going to be domestically recycled steel or imported.
Well they wouldn’t use recycled steel for that and this contract would mean bringing in the right steel, but the fact remains that it is brought in, not produced here anymore.
They use high quality re cycled steel and then melt it back to liquid. As to the required quality and composition well they use some of it for forgings that have far more exacting and exotic criteria than a gun barrel.
Exactly.
Brilliant; iconic news. To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of UK industry are greatly exaggerated.
Slightly off-topic but I hope they are working with RR Derby to set up electron beam welding in their new reactor facility.
Would give RR an edge in SMR deployment if they could produce reactor vessels in 24h.
Last I heard was that when it has passed all the certification and isolated for production the pressure vessels will be made by SFM for RR.
That’s even better news that could certainly be a game changer on the world stage.
Yay, they are starting the production of barrels. Of course no word about the rest of the artillery elements that they fit the barrels to. It’s not as if the Royal Artillery has got dozens of systems just lying around gathering rust.
Going off at a slight tangent, I’ve always wondered why BAE hasn’t decided to fit an M777 into an Archer body and create a hellishly accurate piece of artillery that can shoot and scoot in no time. Has the RA received all of the 14 No. of the original spec Archers?
Supposedly, yes.
I think they haven’t fitted the M777 to Archer, is because the system is essentially Swedish and designed around the Bofors FH77. I’m sure after BAe took over Bofors, there are some specific contractual requirements, that means Bofors get first dibs. The main issue though is that M777 uses a 39 Cal length barrel. Whereas Archer uses a lengthened FH77 barrel of 52 calibres. Though BAe have subsequently developed a longer extended range 55 Cal barrel for the M777. There is an additionally problem with Archer, which is inherent due to the Volvo 6×6 vehicle. In that after firing, the… Read more »
55 cal barrel is unfortunately over now, along with ERCA and M-777ER.
So RN 5″, 57mm, 40mm, 30mm barrels next ?
They’re coming at the BAE facility in Sheffield.
Don’t think it will include the 40mm CTA though…
30mm capability already exists I believe…and 120mm Mortar.
No, but potentially the 40mm Bofors gun on the Type 31 could.
Kier Starmer…..I choke every time I attempt to write SIR!!!
Have you tried CUR?
As a Sheffielder, I like the idea of us doing our bit for Ukraine. Let’s get those huge arc electric furnaces, and the 2 colossal forge presses in action for the good of the nation. Drove past it today on my way home from work.
Good Evening,
A bit off the cuff unfortunately ( no immediate general chat available on general topics or am I wrong?). What about theUK producing the Iron Dome missile system to step up homeland Defence as it seems America intends to do?
Best regards Nick Hamburg
Iron Dome wouldn’t really offer much more to UK GBAD than Land Sabre does. What we need is more Long Range capability such as SAMP-T, Patriot, THAAD and Arrow 3: class Missile Systems.
George keep it quiet ,just in case Net zero Miliband joins
UKDJ .
SFM uses Electric Arc Furnaces which are considered to be green
You have to wonder how the 12 remaining Chally 2s barrels are doing? As after the hard use the Ukrainians are doing with the Chally, they must need replacing. As part of the Chally deal, did we give Ukraine our pitiful stock of spare barrels? Or are we robbing our reserve tanks to supply Ukraine with barrels. If that is the case, can SFM manufacture L30 barrels to replace our stock?
When the 40 CR2’s were stripped and scrapped at Bovington the barrels were boxed up for storage.
Pete, post-stripping, how were the hulks (hull and turret) disposed of?
Scrap as part of Cameron’s review, would be cheaper to bury them.
I like the bit were it states profits from frozen assets. When thebwar ends, these will need to be repaid ro Russia. Without law, there will be chaos. Our leadership seems to have forgotten that laws serve a purpose.
Russia is never getting the assets that are being given to Ukraine back. If they don’t like it, should’ve gone home.
Hope the facility is secured.
F*ck Ukraine
Cry more
Ukraine appears to be the d!ldo of consequences for you Russians…
Good for you UK folks. I am glad that some decent jobs will become available. AS a USA American a stronger UK economy and military are to my advantage.